Tibhar Quantum X Pro Soft

When I tried the regular X Pro, I thought it was a good rubber, but nothing impressive. It was a bit too hard to my taste, so I thought the X Pro Soft would be a better choice.

But surprisingly, it’s even worse. Usually, a softer sponge means better control, right? Here the soft version is slower, but doesn’t actually give more control or more feeling. It’s as if the rubber was totally muted. Slow, heavy, no feeling, poor control, average spin. I just don’t like it.

This fast rubber boasts a springy nature, featuring a soft sponge and adequate topsheet grip. Brushing motions allow for decent ball control, but generating significant spin requires more effort. However, mechanically sinking the ball into the sponge is effortless due to its softness, eliminating the need for aggressive strokes.

Critically, this rubber excels in speed. Off-table play demands minimal effort for fast returns, while looping and driving shots result in straight, direct arcs. The ball ejects swiftly from the rubber, but the soft sponge compensates for its speed.

In the short game, it exhibits bounciness and spin sensitivity, especially when playing passively during service receive and soft blocking. It caters to active attackers who prioritize speed and placement throughout the game, with less emphasis on spin generation. While suitable for forehand play, it truly shines on the backhand, where raw speed is effortlessly achieved.